Math Assessment (DCOM)
Fall 2024
Your Douglas College Math Assessment (DCOM) will be offered in-person using Blackboard for the Fall semester. Registration must be done 72 (business) hours in advance because you will need to complete the Tech Set Up Test found under Course Content in Blackboard to ensure you have working access before your scheduled date and time.
- Who should Write
- What to bring to the test
- Test Format
- What it tests
- Scores needed to challenge prerequisites
- Test result
- Test policy
- Test schedule
- How to book an assessment
Who should write
The Douglas College Math Assessment (DCOM) is for students who wish to challenge prerequisites for
- MATH 1120 - Calculus 1,
- MATH 1123 - Calculus for Life Sciences
- MATH 1125 - Calculus for Social Sciences,
- MATH 1130 - Discrete Mathematics 1,
- or MATH 1160 - Introduction to Statistics.
This may be necessary if you do not have documented proof of prerequisite courses, but believe you can demonstrate that you have the required knowledge.
Before taking the Douglas College Math Assessment (DCOM), you must have one of the following:
- proof of either B.C. Foundations of Math 11, B.C. Principles of Math 11, or B.C. Precalculus 11 with a grade of "C" or higher.
- MATU 0411 (formerly DVST 0411) with a grade of "C" or higher; or
- a referral from the Mathematics Upgrading Department.
What to bring to the test
Please bring:
- Your student number, photo identification,
- A pen or pencil,
- and a scientific calculator but not a graphing calculator.
The invigilator will provide scratch paper which will be collected when you complete the test.
Test format
The Douglas College Math Assessment (DCOM) is a series of four proctored Math Assessments. The assessments range from Intermediate Algebra to Functions and Trigonometry. Details of each test are described below.
All students will begin with Test #1: Mathematics 2 and progress on to Test #2, Test #3, and then Test #4 if applicable. Each test must be done in sequence of order to be valid. At each level, a certain score must be achieved to be eligible to advance to the next test.
What it tests
What it tests
The assessments consist of questions drawn from the following topics:
- evaluating/simplifying algebraic expressions
- operations with integers
- simplifying expressions with integer and rational exponents
- radicals
- operations with polynomials and rationals
- factoring polynomials
- solving quadratics
- solving rational equations
- solving literal equations
- slope-intercept form of the equation of a line
- solving and graphing linear equations and linear inequalities
- systems of linear equations
- functions; domains; max/min value for quadratics
- word problems
Preparation for Test #1
Texts with Basic and Intermediate Algebra and College Algebra
Format of Test #1
The assessment 20 question multiple-choice test which takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete.
Score needed to proceed to Test #2:
Score of 14 or higher
What it tests
- operations with integers, rationals, exponents, radicals
- absolute value equations and inequalities
- distance between two points
- operations with algebraic expressions; algebraic fractions
- operations with polynomials and rationals
- factoring polynomials
- solving quadratics and quadratic inequalities
- solving rational equations
- solving radical equations
- solving and graphing linear equations and linear inequalities
- systems of linear equations
- functions, including composition
- logarithms
- word problems
Preparation for Test #2
Text with College Algebra or Advanced Algebra
Format of Test #2
This assessment is a 24 question multiple-choice test which takes approximately 60 minutes to complete.
Score needed to proceed to Test #3:
Score of 14 or higher
What it tests
- functions; composition, notation
- fractional equations
- factoring; operations with algebraic expressions
- quadratic inequalities; graphs
- systems of linear equations
- graphs; quadratics, linear equations
- logarithmic and exponential functions
- geometry; distance
- trig identities
- trigonometric graphs
- special angles; trig functions
- word problems
Preparation for Test #3
Text with Precalculus
Format of Test #3
This assessment is a 26 question multiple-choice test which takes approximately 60 minutes to complete.
Score needed to proceed to Test #4:
Score of 13 or higher
What it tests
- fractional equations
- inequalities
- absolute value; graphing
- exponential and logarithms functions
- graphing; exponentials, logarithms, conics
- higher degree polynomial equations non-linear systems of equations; graphs
- right triangles, definition of trig functions
- special angles; radian measure
- trig identities, cofunctions
- trigonometric graphing
- trig equations
- non-right triangles; laws of sines and cosines
- inverse trigonometric functions
Preparation for Test #4
Text with Pre-Calculus
Format of Test #4
This assessment is a 24 question multiple-choice test which takes approximately 60 minutes to complete.
Scores needed to challenge prerequisites
To satisfy prerequisites for the following courses, students must achieve the scores on the tests listed below.
MATH 1160 - Introduction to Statics: Score of 12 or higher on Test #2: Mathematics 3
MATH 1130 - Discrete Mathematics 1: Score of 13 or higher on Test #3: Calculus Readiness 1
MATH 1125 - Calculus for Social Sciences: Score of 15 or higher on Test #3: Calculus Readiness 1
MATH 1123 - Calculus for Life Sciences: Score of 12 or higher or Test #4: Calculus Readiness 2
MATH 1120 - Calculus 1: Score of 12 or higher on Test #4: Calculus Readiness 2
Test results
You will usually be given your results immediately after the completion of the assessment.
Assessments completed via Blackboard will normally have results emailed to you and entered onto your student record 72 (business) hours after completion.
Test policy
Students may take an assessment for admission to courses and/or programs a maximum of two times within a two year period, with a minimum of four months between tests. Students who believe extenuating circumstances exist may contact Assessment Services to request consideration or exemption to this policy.
Test schedule
Please follow the steps on - Assessment Testing Information to book your exam
How to book an assessment
Visit page How to book an Assessment page.
Please note that registration or cancellation of assessments must be done 24 (business) hours in advance of the scheduled date and time.